@`dustyatters` Well done!
First off, thanks for the compliment in the Elmarez write-up.
I don't need to say anything about Barnhardt, as you pretty much nailed it. He was the ONLY D line prospect remaining, and was a hard worker. Having lost the most dominant D line player of S1, we needed a player in this role, and he is that player. I think A- is a good score, because there were so many great prospects that I couldn't go wrong with this pick.
As for Elmarez, my co-GM had him as the #1 LB based on interview responses. I had Kraken at #1 due to scheme fit, but he predictably went early. My thought for Elmarez was actually to use him as a 4-3 DE if he wasn't active, which can be done without a position change. With Barnhardt on one side and Elmarez on the other, we should have a solid defensive line, best in the draft league, in fact. If active, then he could focus speed and be a great MLB. I get scoring him low as an LB due to his speed, but he can definitely fix that.
Fletcher was my #2 CB, and #1 was obviously Bly. I went with LB first due to my fears on opponent run game plus insane depth in the secondary for this draft, but Fletcher was absolutely the pick. Hard to demand a score better than A- because Morris and Urlacher were still available, and would have been justifiable as well.
Darren Morris is going to be the first of two "why the hell were these guys available?" picks. You were right in naming him a steal. He'll be playing at FS, and already he is able to own any #3 WR coming his way.
Urlacher, though, is THE STEAL of the first half. Both Norfolk and I had him as a MID second round pick, but team needs and a few really ODD picks left this guy on the board. LB wasn't really a big need for us with Elmarez (who we were planning on using as LB and just focusing speed), but the value was just too good to pass up. At this point, I'm not sure if we are going to play him on the outside, letting him use his speed to pass rush, or consider a 4-3 DE role for him, but no matter what he'll make the team a lot better. Not only is picking him an A+ for us, but an F for everyone else.
Brandon Carter was a tough pick, because while he was on our draft board, he just wasn't in my plans. I never thought we'd get him. I had him 17th on my board due to already having the best TE in the league last year (though Crush will take that title in S2), and a decent slot WR. Carter was an upgrade, but more a luxury. Still, this is a guy a lot of teams would have gotten an A pick for almost a full round earlier. We'll use him in the slot in 3WR sets and at TE in 2TE formations. With him on one side and Tkachuk on the other, that gives us the best run blocking in the league.
Segue to...
Thomas Mango. He responded to our scouting interview and told us he was on his honeymoon, but that he would be coming back and would love to play for us. For a team that leads the league in rushing, having an actual active running back is too good to pass up. I completely understand the draft grade, and it was that impression of inactivity that I was counting on when I let him fall so far. This is just a case of doing the homework.
Shawn Guy was 100% the ONLY player we trusted to improve that was left. Kicker wasn't a big need for us, but we do feel he'll be an upgrade, and upgrading ANYWHERE from a late 6th round pick is a win.
Buck Charles is inactive, simply the last eligible guy remaining. He'll be depth at WR. A+ pick by process of elimination.
Your overall write up was great, but I do want to hit a few spots where I disagree.
#3 Egor Medved - NT: One of the least impressive picks of the first round? See Booter, Fresh. Medved is going to destroy O lines. Expect him to impress you.
#6 Fresh Booter - WR: He is very VOCAL but not really ACTIVE, leading people to seriously overestimate his commitment. Obviously Wachter was a better pick, but I had Carlito Crush (drafted 8th), Kenny Omega (10th) and even Brandon Carter (21st) all ranked ahead of Booter. I would downgrade this one big time. The only good thing about Booter as a first round pick is you'll likely have him more than one season.
#18 Peg Leg - K: This guy shouldn't have gone in the top 25, I didn't even have him top 30. Given how many GREAT talents were left, this was a really bad pick.
#22 Jacob Lattimore - S: I think you were WAY too harsh on this one. At 22, not a ton of great prospects were left. Yes, I had Taylor ranked higher as well (17th, in fact), but I also had Lattimore 24th on my board, so we aren't talking about a huge reach.
Also, only an A- on you? Don't be humble. You may have been the biggest steal of the draft.
First off, thanks for the compliment in the Elmarez write-up.
I don't need to say anything about Barnhardt, as you pretty much nailed it. He was the ONLY D line prospect remaining, and was a hard worker. Having lost the most dominant D line player of S1, we needed a player in this role, and he is that player. I think A- is a good score, because there were so many great prospects that I couldn't go wrong with this pick.
As for Elmarez, my co-GM had him as the #1 LB based on interview responses. I had Kraken at #1 due to scheme fit, but he predictably went early. My thought for Elmarez was actually to use him as a 4-3 DE if he wasn't active, which can be done without a position change. With Barnhardt on one side and Elmarez on the other, we should have a solid defensive line, best in the draft league, in fact. If active, then he could focus speed and be a great MLB. I get scoring him low as an LB due to his speed, but he can definitely fix that.
Fletcher was my #2 CB, and #1 was obviously Bly. I went with LB first due to my fears on opponent run game plus insane depth in the secondary for this draft, but Fletcher was absolutely the pick. Hard to demand a score better than A- because Morris and Urlacher were still available, and would have been justifiable as well.
Darren Morris is going to be the first of two "why the hell were these guys available?" picks. You were right in naming him a steal. He'll be playing at FS, and already he is able to own any #3 WR coming his way.
Urlacher, though, is THE STEAL of the first half. Both Norfolk and I had him as a MID second round pick, but team needs and a few really ODD picks left this guy on the board. LB wasn't really a big need for us with Elmarez (who we were planning on using as LB and just focusing speed), but the value was just too good to pass up. At this point, I'm not sure if we are going to play him on the outside, letting him use his speed to pass rush, or consider a 4-3 DE role for him, but no matter what he'll make the team a lot better. Not only is picking him an A+ for us, but an F for everyone else.
Brandon Carter was a tough pick, because while he was on our draft board, he just wasn't in my plans. I never thought we'd get him. I had him 17th on my board due to already having the best TE in the league last year (though Crush will take that title in S2), and a decent slot WR. Carter was an upgrade, but more a luxury. Still, this is a guy a lot of teams would have gotten an A pick for almost a full round earlier. We'll use him in the slot in 3WR sets and at TE in 2TE formations. With him on one side and Tkachuk on the other, that gives us the best run blocking in the league.
Segue to...
Thomas Mango. He responded to our scouting interview and told us he was on his honeymoon, but that he would be coming back and would love to play for us. For a team that leads the league in rushing, having an actual active running back is too good to pass up. I completely understand the draft grade, and it was that impression of inactivity that I was counting on when I let him fall so far. This is just a case of doing the homework.
Shawn Guy was 100% the ONLY player we trusted to improve that was left. Kicker wasn't a big need for us, but we do feel he'll be an upgrade, and upgrading ANYWHERE from a late 6th round pick is a win.
Buck Charles is inactive, simply the last eligible guy remaining. He'll be depth at WR. A+ pick by process of elimination.
Your overall write up was great, but I do want to hit a few spots where I disagree.
#3 Egor Medved - NT: One of the least impressive picks of the first round? See Booter, Fresh. Medved is going to destroy O lines. Expect him to impress you.
#6 Fresh Booter - WR: He is very VOCAL but not really ACTIVE, leading people to seriously overestimate his commitment. Obviously Wachter was a better pick, but I had Carlito Crush (drafted 8th), Kenny Omega (10th) and even Brandon Carter (21st) all ranked ahead of Booter. I would downgrade this one big time. The only good thing about Booter as a first round pick is you'll likely have him more than one season.
#18 Peg Leg - K: This guy shouldn't have gone in the top 25, I didn't even have him top 30. Given how many GREAT talents were left, this was a really bad pick.
#22 Jacob Lattimore - S: I think you were WAY too harsh on this one. At 22, not a ton of great prospects were left. Yes, I had Taylor ranked higher as well (17th, in fact), but I also had Lattimore 24th on my board, so we aren't talking about a huge reach.
Also, only an A- on you? Don't be humble. You may have been the biggest steal of the draft.
![[Image: BVsashy.png]](https://i.imgur.com/BVsashy.png)
